Cutting machine



Feb. 4,1941.

J. R. MORRIS CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1939 10 Shets-Sheet 1 lrmentor EPH B Moms;

Feb. 4, 1941. .1. R. MORRIS CUTTING MACHINE Fild Sept. 25, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Grim-neg Feb. 4, 1941. J. R. MORRIS CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 my P ii m Q um... ll-INN S .R R

(JOSEPH F. Momma,

dtrorneg J. R. MORRIS CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mum 3nvcmor I O/OSEPH K MORE/6.

Feb. 4, 1941. J. R. MORRIS CUTTING MACHINE 1o Sheets-Sheet 5 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1939 ll I I .I

ff/m/M/iwg w QJOsEPH R MOE/FIG.

Feb. 4, 1941. .1. R. MORRIS CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1939 l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 mm mm Jnvcntor m. .m W A m w Gum-neg 4, 1941- J. R. MQRRIS 32,230,651

CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1939 I 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 ISnncntor o/osEPH A. MORE/6.

CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1959 10 Sheets-Shet 8 I82 j 226 24 Z /80 l /ZZ2 dtlomeg Feb. 4, 1941.

J. MORRIS CUTTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-She et 9 Filed Sept. 25, 1939 A bNm lull.

. 3 nvcntor Q/O6EPH K Mose/s.

LTttorneg Feb. 4, 194-1. J. R. MORRIS CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1939 IO'Sheets-Sheet l0 3 nverltor Q/OGEPH E MOKE/S.

Patented Feh. 4, 19 41 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,230,651 CUTTING MACHINE Application September 25, 1939, Serial No. 296,444

21 Claims.

The present invention relates to cuttingmachines in general and more particularly to a machine designed primarily for the cutting of glass sheets or plates, although it is obviously notrestricted to such use.

It is an aim of this invention to provide an improved cutting machine of. novel construction, combination, and arrangement for cutting out from sheets or plates ofglass or the like forms or lights of predetermined regular or irregular outline, rapidly, accurately, and economically.

The machine herein provided is of especial utility in those cases Where it is desired to effect the cutting out of a relatively large number of sheets or plates of the same shapeand size such as, for example, the door and window lights or half-Windshields of automotive vehicles. Briefly, the machine embodies a table for supporting the glass sheet to be cut, a template or pattern mem- 'ber of predetermined. shape and size mounted above said table, and a cutting unit mounted upon and movable along said template and having a cutting tool for effecting the scoring of thesheets along'a predetermined line of cut corresponding to the shape of the template.

Among the many novel features of the cutting machine of this invention are the provision of means for feeding the sheet into cutting'position upon the table and for delivering it therefrom subsequent to cutting; means for automatically bringing the sheet to a stop When it reaches a predetermined position on' said-table; means for accurately positioning the sheet upon the" table and for preventing accidental displacement thereof during cutting; a motor automatically actuated when the sheet is properly located upon the table for driving the cutting unit around said template; means controlled by movement of the cutting unit for shutting olT said motor when said cutting unit reaches a predetermined position; means for bringing the cutting unit to a stop after the power thereto has been discontinued and the said cutting unit reaches the end of its cutting cycle; means for lifting the cutting tool and placing it upon the sheet to be cut slight-' 1y inwardly of the edge thereof'at the beginning of the cutting operation and for also raising saidcutting tool from the sheet just before it leaves saidsheet atthe completion of the cutting operation whereby to prevent chipping or spelling additional cutting tools for making quent" breaking of the sheet; and means for automatically rendering the sheet stop means ineffective to permit/the discharge of the sheet after it has been cutifrom the table.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more'appa'rent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals ar employed to designate 'like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cutting'm'achine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fi 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the machine" taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transversesectio'n' taken substantially'on line 5-5 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view showing the means for lifting the cutting tool and placing it upon the sheet slightly inwardly of theedge' thereof at the. beginning of the cutting operation;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section taken substantially' on line 1- -1" of Fig. 1, showing one of the cutting tools for 'makingthe entering cuts;

Fig; 8 is a plan viewof the means for bringing the cutting unit to a stop at the completion of its cutting cycle;

Fig; 9 is a detail vertical section taken substantially on line 99 of Fig: 1 andshowing the cuttingunit stop means; V r

Fig. 10'is avertical' seotionthrough the cutting unit takensubstantially-on line It-Hl of Fig. 1;

Fig-iris a'vertical section through the cutting unit taken substantially on line i ll i of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12is a hori'zontal section'through the'cutting unit taken substantially on line i2'-i2 of Fig.1

Fig. 131s a detailview of means for preve nting rebound of the cutsheet after it has been delivered frorn the cutting machine onto a take-cit conveyor;

Fig. 14 is an electrical wiring diagram-illustrating the operation of the various parts of the machine;

Fig. 15 isavi evv of a sheet showing the manner inwhich it'is'soored upon the machine;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a cutting machine of somewhat modified construction;

Fig; 17 is a cletail'vertical transverse section making the entering cuts in the machine of Figs. 16 and 17.

General statement Briefly, the cutting machine of thisinvention comprises a table supporting structure 20 having associated therewith a fiat, horizontal top 2| for supporting the sheet of glass or the like 22 during the cutting thereof. Arranged. above the table top 2| in vertically spaced relationthereto is a horizontal track template 23having' the same configuration as the form or light to be cut out from the glass sheet. Mounted upon the track template 23 and guided thereby is a power driven cutting unit designated in its entirety by the numeral 24 and provided with a rotatable steel cutting wheel 25 (Fig. 10), said unit being adapted to travel around the template 23 to score the glass sheet 22 along the line of cut indicated at 26 in Figs. 1 and 15.

In accordance with the invention, means is provided for automatically raising the table top 2| and glass sheet supported thereon just prior to the cutting operation and for maintaining them in elevated position during the said cutting operation, upon the completion of which the said table and sheet are automatically lowered. The machine further embodies means for feeding the glass sheet forwardly upon the table into proper position beneath the cutting unit and for also discharging the sheet from said table after it has been cut. Upon leaving the cutting table, the sheet is adapted to be received upon a suitable take-01f conveyor 21 provided with a traveling surface 28 for receiving the said sheet and carrying it away preferably at substantially right angles relative to said table. Means is also provided for automatically bringing the sheet to a stop when it'reaches a predetermined position upon the cutting table and for accurately positioning the said sheet upon said table and for preventing accidental displacement thereof during cutting. I

The travel of the cutting unit 24 around template 23 is effected by a motor 29 (Fig. 1), and means is provided for automatically shutting off the motor when the cutting unit approaches the end of its cutting cycle so that said unit ispermitted to coast the balance of said cycle. Means is provided for first slowing down the travel of the cutting unit after the motor has been shut off and then bringing said unit to a stop at the completion of its cutting cycle. In order to prevent chipping or spalling of the sheet edge as well as injury to the cutting tool 25 as said tool passes onto or leaves the sheet, cam members 30 and 3| (Fig. l) are carried by the template 23 and are adapted to lift the cutting tool 25 and place it upon the sheet slightly inwardly of the back edge 32 thereof at the beginning of the cutting operation and to subsequently lift the cutting tool from the sheet just before it reaches the edge 32 at the completion of the cutting operation.

To facilitate the subsequent breaking of the scored sheet, it is preferred that so-called entering cuts or vents be made which extend from the front edge 33 of the sheet inwardly to the score line 26'made by the cutting tool 25. These entering cuts are shown at 34 and 35 in Fig. 15 and'are formed by the cutters 36 and 3'! respecseamen tively (Fig. 1). In Fig. 15 is shown a glass sheet scored upon the machine herein provided.

The machine further embodies various other novel features of construction, arrangement, and operation, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described.

Cutting table construction As stated above, the cutting table comprises a supporting structure 20 and a vertically movable top 2| carried thereby. The supporting structure 20 includes a substantially rectangular horizontal frame 38 formed preferably of angle irons and supported adjacent its front end by the spaced vertical posts 39 and 40 (Fig. 2) and adjacent its rear end by similar posts 4| and 42 (Fig. 3). Extending longitudinally of the table and rotatably carried by the side members 43 and 44 of supporting frame 38 are the spaced parallel shafts 45 and 46 (Fig. 4). Fixed tothe shaft 45 adjacent its opposite ends are the two bell-crank levers 41 and 48, each comprising a substantially vertical depending leg 49 and a substantially horizontal, relatively shorter leg 50. Keyed to the shaft 46, opposite bell-crank levers 41 and 48 on shaft 45, are similar bellcrank levers 5|, each comprising a substantially vertical depending leg 52 and a substantially horizontal, relatively shorter leg 53.

The table top 2| is substantially rectangular in plan and has secured to the underside thereof spaced brackets 54 and 55 to which the substantially horizontal legs 50 of bell-crank levers 41 and 48 are pivoted as at 56, while the substantially horizontal legs 53 of bell-crank levers 5| are pivoted as at 51 to similar brackets 58 also carried upon the underside of the table top.

The depending legs 49 of bell-crank levers 47 and 48'are connected together at their lower ends by a horizontal rod 59 and a similar rod 6|] connects the lower ends of the depending legs 52 of bell-crank levers 5|. The parallel rods 59 and '60 are in turn connectedtogether adjacent their opposite ends by horizontal links 6| and 62 so that all of the bell-crank levers will be caused to operate in unison. Fastened to the rod 59 adjacent'each end thereof is one end of a tension spring 63 having its opposite end attached to a bracket 64 secured to the supporting frame 38. The tension springs 63 tend to normally urge the bell-crank levers in a clockwise direction to raise the table top 2|, but they are not of sufficient strength to alone effect such raising.

The means for raising the table top 2| includes a pair of solenoids 65 and 66 carried upon a suitable platform 61 beneath the said table top. The vertical plungers 68 and 69 of solenoids 65 and 66 have attached to their upper ends chains 10 and H respectively which pass upwardly over sprockets 12 carried by brackets 64 and are connected to the rear ends of the horizontal links BI and 62. From the above, it will be readily understood that upon energization of the solenoids 65 and 66 to draw the plungers 68 and 69 thereof downwardly, all of the bell-crank levers will be simultaneously rocked in a clockwise direction upon shafts 45 and 46 to elfect the desired raising of the table. The raising of the table will be assisted by the action of the tension springs 63 which, as previously pointed out,

always tend to raise the table but are not of sufiicient strength to alone elfect such raising. However, they do materially assist in the table raising by lessening the drawing force required to be exerted by the solenoids. When'the various parts are in the full line position shown in Fig. 4, the table top 2I is elevated; whereas when; in broken line position, the said table top isv lowered. The table top is adapted to be maintained in elevated position by the solenoids 65 and 66 during the. cutting of the glass sheet 22. Upon de-energization of the solenoids, the weight of the table top will cause it to be lowered against the action of springs 63.

to 60 are preferably positively driven at all times and at a constant uniform speed by any suitable type of drive mechanism, such as the well known chain and sprocket drive 85 (Fig. 4).

During the feeding of the glass sheet 22 to be cut into desired cutting position upon the table,

the table top 2| is in lowered position at which time the conveyor rolls TI to 80 project upwardly slightly beyond the upper surface of said table top, as shown in Fig. 3, to receive the glass sheet thereon The sheet is carried forwardly by the conveyor rolls to desired position upon the table where it is automatically brought to a stop as will be later explained. The table top is then automatically raised into cutting position by the energization of solenoids 65 and 66 whereupon theglass sheet will be transferred from the conveyor rolls to the stationary top of the table. The cutting of the sheet is then effected, after which the table top is lowered to again bring the sheet to rest upon the conveyor rolls whereupon the said rolls will discharge the sheet from the table onto the take-off conveyor 21, during which time another sheet to be cut is adapted to be delivered into cutting position upon the table.

Sheet guiding and positioning means The means for effecting the accurate positioning of the glass sheet upon the cutting table and for maintaining the said sheet against accidental displacement during cutting will now be described in detail. As shown in Fig. 1, the top of the cutting table is relatively long, and the right hand end portion thereof designated it might be termed the receiving section while the left hand end portion indicated 1) can be called the cutting section. Thus, the conveyor rolls I1 and 18 are at the receiving end of the table and the conveyor rolls [9 and 80 at the cutting end thereof. The receiving section a of the table top is provided along the rear edge thereof with a plurality of guide rollers 86 mounted in fixed horizontal alignment with one another and freely rotatable upon pins 87, while arranged along the forward edge of both the receiving and cuttingsections a and b of the table are a plurality of aligned freely rotatable guide rollers 88 similar to rollers 86. The glass sheet 22 to be cut is of course adapted to be received between and guided by the rollers 86 and 80 into cutting position.

Arranged adjacent the rear edge of the cutting section b of the table is a pair of guide rollers 89 and 99 which engage the rear edge of the sheet and are spring pressed into engagement therewith. Each roller 89 and 90 is mounted to freely rotate upon a vertical pin 9| carried atone end of a horizontal bell-crank lever 92, said lever being pivoted intermediate its ends as at 93 to -.a plate 94 suitably secured to the table. Fastened to the opposite end of the bell-crank lever 92 is a tension spring 95 which serves to normally urge the guide roller inwardly into engagement with the rear edge of the sheet, the inward movement of said roller being limited by a stop pin 95 carried by plate 94. With this arrangement, when the glass sheet 22 is initially placed upon the cutting table, the rear edge thereof is moved into engagement with guide rollers 86 and as the sheet is carried forwardly upon the conveyor rolls TI to 80, it will be received between the guide rollers 88, which engage the forward edge of the sheet, and guide rollers 89 and 90 which engage the rear edge thereof.

There is also provided at the discharge end of the cutting table means, designated generally by the numeral 96, for limiting the forward movement of the glass sheet upon said table and for bringing the said sheet to a stop when it reaches a predetermined position thereon. The stop means 96 comprises a substantially horizontal strip 91 slidable through a block 98 and provided at its inner end with a stop plate 99 engageable by the forward edge of the glass sheet. The block 98 is mounted upon a transverse bar I00 having cylindrical end portions passing through horizontal bearings IM and I02 carried by arms I03 and I04 provided at their inner ends with vertical bearings I05 and I06 mounted upon vertical pins I01 and I08 respectively carried by the table top.

The bar I00 is mounted for rocking movement in the bearings IN and I02 and upon turning of the bar in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 3), the'inner end of the strip 91 will be raised to lift the stop plate 99 upwardly out of the path of travel of the glass sheet, as shown in broken lines, thereby permitting the sheet to pass off of the table. However, when the stop plate 99 is in its lowered full line position, it is disposed in the path of travel of the glass sheet and upon engagement of the forward edge of the sheet with the said stop plate 99, the said sheet will be brought to a stop. The stop plate 99 is normallyurged inwardly by a tension spring I09 fastened at one end to the block 98 and at its oppositeend to a pin H0 on strip 91.

The means for lifting the stop plate 99 out of the path of travel of the glass sheet subsequent to the cutting operation to permit the removal of said sheet from the cutting table includes a chain III (Fig. 3) which passes over a sprocket II 2 carried by the supporting frame 38. This chain is fastened at one end to a depending link H3 secured to one end of the bar I00 and at its opposite end to the vertically movable plunger 1 M of a solenoid H5. The stop plate 99 is normally urged downwardly by compression springs IE6 (Fig. 3) bearing at their lower ends against ears II'I fixed to the bar I00.

When the solenoid I I5 is energized, the plunger H4 thereof will be drawn downwardly, thereby swinging the link II3 to the right (Fig. 3) to rock the bar I00 in a counter-clockwise direction and thereby effect the raising of the stop plate 99*out of engagement with the glass sheet. Upon de-energization of the solenoid, the stop plate 99 willbe automatically lowered to sheet engaging position by the downward pressure of springs H6. It is preferred, in the operation of the machine',.that the stop plate 99 be only momentarily the strip 91 slightly outwardly against the ac tion of the spring I09. The sheet will, however, be brought to a stop when the compression of the spring overcomes the force of the sheet. When this occurs, there may be a slight rebound of the sheet and for preventing undue rebound of the sheet when it engages the stop means 96, there is provided at the opposite end of the table the stop means II9. The stop means H9 is somewhat similar to stop means 96 and also includes a strip I20 adjustably carried by the transverse supporting bar I2I and provided at its forward end with a stop plate I22 and also with the sheet engaging rollers I23. The transverse bar I2I is provided at its opposite ends with cylindrical portions I24 and I25 rotatably mounted in bearing brackets I26 and I21 respectively carried by the table top.

As the glass sheet is moved forwardly upon the cutting table, the said sheet initially engages the rollers I23, causing the stop plate I22 to be lifted upwardly whereby to permit the travel of the sheet therebeneath and during the. passage of the sheet into cutting position, the rollers I23 ride along upon the upper surface of said sheet. As soon as the rear edge of the sheet passes beyond the stop plate I22, the said plate falls downwardly to prevent or limit rearward movement of the sheet when it engages the stop means 96 at the forward end of the table. It will be thus clearly seen that means is provided for accurately positioning the glass sheet upon the cutting table automatically and without any assistance from the operator.

'In order to clamp the glass sheet 22 firmly upon the table to prevent accidental displacement thereof during cutting, clamping members are provided to engage the front and rear edges of the sheet just prior to or simultaneous with the raising of the table tocutting position. To this end, there are positioned to engage the rear edge 32 of the sheet a pair of spaced clamping members I28 (only one being shown in Fig. 1), while the clamping members engaging the forward edge 33 of the sheet are designated I29 and I30. The clamping members I28 are mounted in fixed position and each comprises a block I3I engaging the rear edge of the sheet and being carried by a horizontal bolt I32 which passes through a bracket I33 carried by the table and is secured in place by nuts I34. By proper adjustment of the nuts I34, the clamping block I3I can be moved forwardly or rearwardly to the desired position.

The clamping members I29 and I are mounted for horizontal movement toward and away from the glass sheet and upon engagement with the forward edge of the sheet are adapted to urge the rear edge thereof firmly against the clamping blocks I3I. Each of the movable clamping members I29 and I30 comprises a clamping block I35 carried at the inner end of a horizontal bolt I36 which passes loosely through a sleeve I31 and has threaded upon its outer end a nut I38. En-

circling the bolt I36 is a compressionsprin'g I39 bearing at its forward end against the clamping block I35 and at its opposite end against the sleeve I31. The spring I39 serves to yieldably urge the clamping block forwardly and this forward movement is limited by the nut I38.

The sleeves I31 of clamping members I29 and I30 are formed integral with brackets I40 and MI respectively, and these brackets are pivotally mounted at their outer ends upon horizontally aligned stub shafts I42 and I43 carried at the upper ends of vertical arms I44 and I45, said arms being connected together by a horizontal shaft I46 to form a substantially U-shaped yoke I41. The shaft I46 is journaled for rocking movement in bearing blocks I48 and I49 mounted upon the front member I50 of the supporting frame 38. Also carried by the front member I50 of supporting frame 38 is a vertical plate I5I provided at its lower end with horizontally spaced ears I52 carrying a horizontal pin I53 upon which is mounted a vertically disposed rocker lever I54. The rocker lever I54 is mounted intermediate its ends upon the pin I53 and comprises the upwardly and downwardly extending portions I55 and I56 arranged at an obtuse angle relative to one another (Fig. 5). The lower end I56 of rocker lever I54 is formed with a slot I51 through which passes a bolt I58 to which is pivoted one end of a link I59, the opposite end of which is pivoted upon the rod .60. The upper end I55 of said rocker lever is received between the bifurcated lower end I60 of a block I6I' loosely mounted at its upper end upon the shaft I46. The rocker lever I54 is secured to the block I6I by a bolt I62 passing through a vertical slot I63 in the lower end I60 of said block I6I.

Fixed to the yoke I41, by welding or the like, is a vertical plate I64 provided with an arcuate slot I65 through which passes a bolt I66 carrying nut I61 and by means of which the said plate I I64 is secured to the block I6I. By loosening the nut I61 on bolt I66, the yoke I41 can be rocked in bearing blocks I48 and I49 to move the arms I44 and I45 and clamping members I29 and I30 carried thereby either inwardly or outwardly. This adjustment is provided to take care of different sized sheets of glass which may be out.

Upon energization of solenoids 65 and 66 to effect the raising of the table top H, the rocker lever I54 will be rocked in a clockwise direction upon its pivot I53 (Fig. 5) through the link connection I59, whereupon the upper end of said rocker lever will be moved outwardly to effect turning of the shaft I49 in a counter-clockwise direction. This will cause the clamping members I29 and I30 to be moved inwardly into engagement with the forward edge of the glass sheet, and these members will of course serve to urge the sheet rearwardly into contact with clamping blocks I3I. Thus, during the raising of the table and also during the time the table is in elevated position, the glass sheet will be firmly clamped in placebetween the fixed and movable clamping members;

Cutting mechanism mounted in spaced relation above the cutting table upon posts I12.

As shown in Fig. 1, the cutting unit 24 is carried at the outer end of a horizontal supporting arm H3 hinged at its inner end as at I14 to a second horizontal arm I which is pivotally mounted at its inner end as at I18 to a'bracket E11 secured upon a platform I18 carried by the supporting frame 38.

With reference particularly to Figs. 1, 10, 11 and 22, the cutting unit 24 comprises a housing i19 provided with a removable top plate I89 secured in place by screws or the like I81. Fastened to the top plate I89 of the housing by screws or the like is a vertical bushing I82 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing sleeve I89 formed at the outer end of the horizontal supporting arm H3, said bushing I82 projecting above said bearing sleeve and having threaded thereon a nut 58 4 which serves to secure the cutting unit to said supporting arm.

Carried by the housing I19 at one side thereof is a pair of spaced guide wheels I85 and I86 free- 1y rotatable upon vertical pins it", while a pair of similar guide wheels I88 are carried at the opposite side of said housing upon vertical pins I99. The housing I19 is slidably received between a pair of horizontal parallel rods I99 and I9I carried atone end by the cutter head I92 and connected together at their opposite ends by a cross strap M3. The inner sides of the rods I99 and I9! are cut away as indicated at I94 and I95 (Fig. 11) to provide grooved tracks for the guide wheels I9-5-I86 and I98 respectively.

The cutter head I92 is hollow and is formed at its lower end with a dove-tailed rib I98 (Fig. 11) carrying a horizontal plate I91 provided in its upper surface with an undercut groove I98 receiving the rib I95 therein. The horizontal plate I91 is provided at its inner end with a well I99 in which is received a cylindrical cutter hold' er 299, said cutter holder having a depending reduced portion 29I projecting through an opening in the bottom of said well and carrying the rotatable steel cutting wheel 25.

The side wall of the well I99 is provided with aligned vertical slots 292 and carried by the cutter holder 299 are horizontal pins 293 which project outwardly through said slots. Carried at the outer end of the plate 591, remote from well I99, is a vertical L-shaped lever 294, said lever being pivoted intermediate its ends to the plate I91 as at 295 and the horizontal portion 296 thereof being. bifurcated at its inner end to provide spaced legs 291 which straddle the well I99 and engage the pins 293.

The cutter head 92 is also provided with a vertical opening 298 in which is mounted a vertical pressure pin 299, said pin projecting downwardly through an opening an; in the plate I91 and engaging the horizontal portion 299 of lever 294. Threaded within the upper end of the opening 298 is a nut 2I 8, while formed upon the pressure pin 29 9 adjacent the lower end thereof is an annular flange 2I2. Arranged within the opening 298 and encircling pressure pin 299 are the two concentric compression springs 2 I3 which hear at their upper ends against the nut 2H and at their lower ends. against the flange 2I2, thereby acting to normally urge the pressure pin 299 downwardly to engage the horizontal portion 296 of lever 294. With this construction, the cutting wheel 25 will be yieldably maintained in engagement with the glass. sheet 22 while the pressure of the cutting wheel upon the glass can be regulated by proper adjustment of the nut 2II to control the compression of the springs 2I3. The plate I91 may be adjusted horizontally relative to cutter head I92 to vary the position of the cutting wheel 25 by means of a set screw 2I4 which passes through a boss 2I5 on the plate I91 and engages the cutter head I92.

Carried by the cutter head I92 is a freely rotatable guide roller 2IB mounted upon a vertical stub shaft 2 and adapted to engage one vertical side edge of the template 23. Carrie-d by the housing I19 and adapted to engage the opposite vertical side edge of the template are the spaced guide rollers 248 and 2I9, the guide roller 2 I6 engaging the template at a point intermediate the two guide rollers 2I8 and 2I9. The guide rollers 2I8 and 2I9 are positively driven and to this end are carried at the lower ends of vertical drive shafts 229 and 22I respectively rotatably mounted in the bottom of housing I19. Keyed to the upper ends of the shafts 229 and 22I, within housing 119, are gears 222 and 223 respectively.

The guide rollers 2l9 and M9 are driven through a train of gears arranged in the housing I19 and including a drive gear 224 and an intermediate gear 225. The intermediate gear 225 is rotatable upon a vertical screw 229 threaded in the top I89 of the housing and is located between the gears 222 and 229 as clearly shown in Fig. 12. The drive gear 229 is keyed to the lower end of a vertical stub shaft 221 secured at its upper end within a vertical bore 228 formed in a cylindrical bearing 229 which is arranged within the bushing I82, said bearing being keyed to the upper end of the stub shaft 221 by screws or the like 239.

Also received within the bore 228 in bearing 229 is one end of a flexible shaft 23I secured to the said bearing by set screws or the like 232. The flexible shaft 23I is connected at its opposite end with the motor 29 which may be suspended a suitable distance above the cutting table or mounted in any other desired manner. Upon operation of the motor 29, the flexible shaft 29I turning bearing 229 will effect rotation of drive gear 224, and this rotary movement will be transmitted to the guide rollers 2I8 and 2I9 through the gears 225, 222 and 223 respectively. The positive rotation of the guide rollers 2I8 and 2I9 will cause the cutting unit 24 to be driven around the template 23.

It is of course essential, in the operation of the machine, thatthe cutting edge of the rotatable steel cutting wheel be always maintained tangent to the line of out if a satisfactory cut is to be made, and the same is equally true when using a cutting diamond instead of a rotatable steel wheel. The provision of the guide rollers 2| 6, 2I8 and H9, together with the fact that the cutting wheel is prevented from rotating about an axis extending perpendicular to the glass sheet,

serve to maintain the cutting edge of the wheel tangent to the line of cut as the cutting unit is propelled around the template.

The guide rollers 2 l6, 2 I8 and 2 I9 are yieldably maintained in engagement with the template 23 by the action of tension springs 233 and 234 connected at one end to a transverse strip 235 carried at the outer end of housing I19 and at their opposite ends to screws 296 and 231 respectively carried by the cutter head I92. These springs serve to draw the housing I19 and cutter head I92 toward one another to maintain the guide rollers carried thereby in yieldable engagement with opposite side edges of the template.

' the line 26 in Fig. 1.

Stop means for cutting unit As brought out above, when the motor 29 is placed in operation, the cutting unit 24 will be driven around the track template 23, with the cutting wheel 25 scoring the glass sheet 22 along It is preferred that the cutting unit be positively driven through only a portion of its cutting cycle and then permitted to coast the balance of its cycle. In order to reduce the shock of sudden stopping and the tendency of the cutting unit to rebound, the invention contemplates the provision of means for first slowing down the speed of the cutting unit as it approaches the end of its cutting cycle and then bringing the same to a stop and maintaining it in such position until it is desired to repeat the cutting operation.

The cutting unit stop means is best illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 and comprises a horizontal plate 238 arranged at the back of the cutting table intermediate the ends thereof and secured to the longitudinally extending bar I19 by bolts or the like 239. Carried by the plate 238 is a pair of opposed levers 249 and 24! pivoted thereto as at 242 and 243 respectively. Carried at the free ends of the levers 249 and 2M are depending pins 244 and 245 respectively which pass through slots 246 and 241 in plate 238 and are connected by a tension spring 248 which functions to normally draw the levers 249 and 24l together.

Carried by and depending from the housing I19 of cutting unit 24 is a stop pin 249 and as the cutting unit approaches the end of its cutting cycle, the stop pin passes between the levers 249 and MI as indicated by the broken lines in Fig.8, whereupon the frictional engagement of the said levers with the said pin will cause a slowing down of the cutting unit. Although this serves to cut down the speed of travel of the cutting unit, the said unit will, however, not be brought to a stop until the stop pin 249 passes beyond the said levers 249 and 2M and engages the inner end of a stop bar 259 extending transversely of the cutting table.

The stop bar 259 is horizontally slidable through a guide block 25| carried by plate 239 and is normally maintained in the path of travel of the stop pin 249 by a spring 252 fastened at one end to a post 253 on block 25l and at its opposite end to a post 254 carried by stop bar 259. The inward movement of the stop bar is limited by a horizontal screw 255 threaded in block 25l and engageable by the post 254. By proper adjustment of the screw 255, the inward movement of the stop bar can be accurately regulated. The spring 252 serves to normally maintain the stop bar 259 in the position indicated in Fig. 8, so that after the pin 249 on the cutting unit passes from between the levers 249 and 24l, it will engage the inner end of said bar as shown by the full lines in Fig. 8 and bring the slowly moving cutting unit to a stop. The levers 249 and 24! are provided at their free ends with sub-- stantially semi-circular notches 256 and 25'' respectively in which the stop pin 249 is received when the cutting unit is brought to a stop and by means of which rebound of said cutting unit is prevented.

It will be evident from the above that the stop bar 259 not only acts to bring the cutting unit to a stop but also prevents further movement of the unit until the said bar is withdrawn from out of the path of travel of the stop pin 249.

This is automatically accomplished at the prop er time in the operation of the machine by a solenoid 258 (Fig. 9) supported by an angle bracket 259 secured to the supporting frame 38. Carried at the upper end 269 of bracket 259 is a sprocket 26I about which is trained a chain 262 connected at one end to the outer end of a stop bar 259 and at its opposite end to the vertical plunger 263 of solenoid 258.

When the solenoid 258 is energized, the plunger 263 thereof will be moved downwardly to draw the stop bar 259 out of engagement with the stop pin 249 on the cutting unit, thereby permitting travel of theunit around the template 23. Upon d-eenergization of the solenoid 258, the tension of the spring 252 will be sufficient to again move the stop bar 259 inwardly so that it will be in position to stop the cutting unit upon the completion of its cutting cycle. The operation of the solenoid 258 is controlled by a switch 264 (Fig. l) secured to bar I19 and adapted to be actuated by a member 255 carried by the cutter supporting arm H3 when the cutting unit 24 is in substantially the position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1. More specifically, the member 265 serves to open the switch 264 to break the circuit through the solenoid 258 and thereby permit the stop bar 259 to be returned to operative position so that it will stop the cutting unit when said unit reaches the end of its cutting cycle. The opening of the switch 264 is also adapted to shut off the motor 29 so that the cutting unit will coast the balance of its cutting cycle.

Cutting tool lifting means For the purpose of preventing chipping or spalling of the rear edge 32 of the glass sheet 22 as the cutting wheel 25 passes onto the sheet at the beginning of the cutting operation and from said sheet at the completion of the cutting operation, as well as for preventing injury to the cutting wheel, means is provided for lifting the cutting wheel and. placing it upon the sheet slightly inwardly of the rear edge 32 thereof at the beginning of the cutting operation and for also lifting the cutting wheel from the sheet just before it reaches the edge 32 at the completion of the cutting operation. This raising and lowering of the cutting Wheel is effected by the cams 39 and 35 secured upon the top of the template 23 (Fig. 1) in conjunction with cooperating means carried by the cutter head I92.

Secured to the cutter head I92 is a vertical plate 266 (Fig. 10) provided at its lower end with a guide slot through which is slidably received the horizontal portion 261 of an L-shaped bracket 268. The vertical portion 269 of said bracket is disposed inwardly of and substantially parallel with the vertical portion 279 of the L- sh-aped lever 294. Passing through the upper end of lever 294 is a set screw 2' having its inner end engaging within a recess in. the upper end of L-shaped bracket 268. Upon horizontal slid-mg movement of the L-shaped bracket 268 through guide plate 265, the L-shaped lever 294 When the motor 29 is placed in operation to start the cutting unit 24 around the template, the roller 276 on the cutting unit will engage the inner edge portion 211 of the cam 30 (Fig. 6). As the roller 216 rides along the high portion 221! of cam 36, the link 7213 will be swung upon itspivot 214 to move the L-shaped bracket 268 outwardly, and this movement of the bracket will cause the L-shaped lever 264 to be rocked in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 10) to effect the raising of the cutting wheel 25. However, upon continued movement of the cutting unit and when the roller 2'56 passes onto the lower inner edge portion 216 of cam 30, as indicated in broken lines in Fig, 10, the compression springs 2L3, acting through the pressure pin 209 upon the horizontal portion 266 of L-shaped lever 294, will rock said lever in a clockwise direction to move the bracket 268 inwardly and the cutting wheel 25 downwardly into engagement with the glass sheet. The inward movement ofthe L-shaped bracket 268 is controlled by a set screw 279. In this way, the cutting wheel 25 will be lifted above the level of the glass sheet (22 just before it reaches the rear edge 32 of said sheet and will then be lowered upon the sheet slightly inwardly of the rear edge thereof. The cutting wheel 25 is also raised in the same manner by the cam 3! just before it reaches the rear edge 32 of the sheet at the completion of the cutting operation, and after it passes beyond the rear edge of said sheet it is again lowered.

Cutters for making entering cuts In order to facilitate the subsequent breaking of the scored sheets of glass after they have been discharged from the cutting machine, there are provided the cutters 36 and 31 for making so-called entering cuts or vents which, as shown in Fig. 15, extend inwardly from the forward edge 33 of the glass sheet to the score line 26 made by the cutting unit 24. The cutters 36 and 31 are adapted to be automatically actuated by movement of the cutting unit and more particularly by means of a cam 28!] (Fig. 1) carried thereby and provided with a curved outer edge 28!.

With reference particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and '7, each cutter assembly 36 and 31 comprises an elongated supporting plate 282 extending forwardly from the cutting table 2'! and carried by a Supporting frame 283, Slidably mounted upon the plate 2812 and extending longitudinally thereof is a slide strip 284 to the inner end of which is pivoted as at 28 5 a block 286. Mounted in the block 286 is a cutting ferrule 281 carrying at its lower end the cutting diamond or other cutting tool 288, said ferrule being secured in said block by a set screw 289. The block 2 86 is normally urged downwardly, to maintain the cutting diamond in yieldable engagement with the glass sheet during cutting, by means of a leaf spring 299 secured to the slide strip 284 by a screw 29!. To facilitate horizontal sliding movement of the strip 284 upon plate 232. there are carried by said plate the two pairs of freely rotatable guide rollers 292 and 293 (Fig. 1) between which the slide strip 285 is received. The opposite side edges of said slide strip may be grooved as at 294 and 295 (Fig. 2) to form tracks for receiving the rollers 282 and 293 respectively.

Also carried by the slide strip 284, adjacent the inner end thereof. is a vertical bolt 296 surrounded by a sleeve 291 and carried at the upper end of said bolt is a freely rotatable roller 298 which is adapted to be engaged by the cam 280 carried by cutting unit 24. Upon engagement of cam 289 with roller 298, the slide strip 284 will be forced outwardly to; move the cutting diamond 288 over the glass sheet to score the same and thereby make the respective entering cut 34 or 35.

The slide strip 284 is slidably received at its outer end within a housing 299 carried upon the plate 282. The top of the housing is formed With a longitudinal slot 300 through which projects a vertical post 36! carried at the outer end of said slide strip. The slide strip 284 is also formed inwardly of post 39! with a longitudinal slot 392 and projecting through this slot is a vertical post 363 carried by plate 282. Extend ing between and fastened to the upper ends of posts 391 and 303 is a tension spring 364 which acts to normally urge the slide strip 284 and cut ting tool 288 carried thereby forwardly into cutting position. The forward movement of the slide strip and cutting tool is regulated by a stop screw 305 passing horizontally through the housing 299.

' As brought out above, during the cutting operation, the slide strip 284 of each cutter assembly 36 and 3'! is adapted to be forced outwardly by the cam 280 on cutting unit 23 to effect'the scoring of the glass sheet by the diamond 288 carried thereby. After the entering out has been made, the slide strip- 284 is adapted to be maintained in its outer or retracted position until the cutting unit completes its cuttingcycle. The locking of slide strip 284 in retracted position is accomplished by the provision of a transverse catch 3% slidable between the top of the housing 299 and a plate 30'! secured in spaced relation to said top. The forward edge of the catch is beveled as at 398 (Fig. 1) and is normally urged inwardly by a spring 309 secured at one end to a vertical pin 3H), passing through the outer end of said catch, and at its opposite end to a screw 3 carried by plate 391. The action of the spring 369 serves to normally maintain the inner beveled end 308 of the catch in the path ofmovement of the post SUI carried by slide strip 284. However, when saidslide strip is moved outwardly, the post 30! will force the catch 39:6 laterally so that the said post will pass behind the catch. Then, as the catch is moved inwardlyv in front of the post 39! by the spring 309, the post will be held against forward movement, As stated, upon outward movement of the slide strip 284, the respective cutting diamond 268 will be caused to move over and in contact with the glass sheet to form an entering cut. The slide strip 284 and cutting tool 288 are then locked in retracted position by the catch 366 until the cutting unit 24 has completed its cutting cycle and the cutting table-2i is lowered.

The loweringof the cutting table is adapted to effect the automatic release of the posts 30! from behind the catches 396 so that the slide strips 284'and cutting diamonds 288 carried thereby will again be moved inwardly to cutting position by the action of springs 304. To this end, there are pivotally carried by the horizontal stub shafts I42 and I43 the cam fingers 3|2 and 3l3 (Figs. 1 and 2), the outer end 3I4 of each finger being received between the housing 299 and the lower end of the vertical pin 3! carried by the respective catch 396. Each cam finger 312 and 313 is supported at its outer end upon a plate 3l5 carried upon the underside of the respective housing 299. The cam fingers are so shaped that when the solenoids and 66 are de-energized to permit lowering of the cutting table 2| and outward movement of the clamping blocks I35 to the broken line position indicated in Fig. 5, the said cam fingers will force the pins 3H] laterally against the action of springs 309. This movement of the pins will serve to withdraw the catches 306 and permit the posts 30I to'move forwardly in slots 300 to return the cutting diamonds 288 to cutting position.

, Operation and electrical wiring of machine In the operation of the machine, the glass sheet 22 to be cut is first placed upon the receiving end a of the cutting table and moved forwardly thereover into cutting position beneath the template 23. When the glass sheet is delivered onto the cutting table, the top 2| thereof is in lowered position as in Fig. 3 so that the glass sheet is received and supported upon the conveyor rollers 11 to 80. At this time, the cutting unit 24 is in starting position at the back of the table as shown in full lines in Fig. 1; the sheet clamping blocks I35 are in retracted broken line position as indicated in Fig. 5; and the cutters 36 and 31 for making the entering cuts are in forward position above the cutting table as also shown in Fig. 5.

As soon as the glass sh-eet engages the conveyor rollers 11 and 18, the said rollers will serve to carry the sheet forwardly until the forward edge thereof engages the stop plate 99 of the sheet stop means 96 which, as brought out above, limits the forward movement of the sheet upon the table. When the sheet engages the stop means 96, the strip 91 thereof will be forced slightlyoutwardly against the action of the spring I09 to cause the solenoid 258 to be energized to withdraw the stop bar 250 from the path of travel of pin 249 carried by the cutting unit 24 to permit movement of the said unit. To this end, there are provided the two contacts 3l6 and 3" carried by the strip 91 and block 98 respectively of the sheet stop means 96. Substantially simultaneously, the solenoids 65 and 66 will be energized to raise the cutting table to transfer the glass sheet from the conveyor rollers to the table top 2|. When the table is raised, the clamping blocks I35 will be automatically moved inwardly through the link connection I59 and lever arm I54 to clamp the glass sheet against the stationary clamping blocks I3I. At substantially the same time, a circuit will be completed through the motor 39 to start the travel of the cutting unit 24 around the template 23. The operation of the various parts of the machine in the proper sequence will be more clearly understood upon reference to the electrical wiring diagram in Fig. 14.

When the forward edge of the glass sheet 22 engages the strip 91 of stop means 96, moving it against the action of spring I69, the contacts 3| 6 and 3H will be momentarily engaged with one another and when so engaged a holding circuit is adapted to be completed through the two electromagnets 3I8 and 3I9 to close the operating circuits for the various parts of the machine. More specifically, when the contacts 3I6 and 3I1 engage one another, a circuit will be completed from the positive main line 320 through wire 32I, electromagnet 3| 8, wires 322 and 323, contacts 3I6 and 3| 1 and wire 324 to the negative main line 325. The completion of the circuit through the electromagnet 3I6 will cause the energization thereof and draw the bar 326 thereof upwardly to move the contacts 321'and 328 carried thereby into engagement with contacts 329 and 330 respectively. When this occurs, the current will enter through wire 32I and will pass through the electromagnet 3I8, contacts 330, 328, wire 33I, switch 264, and wire 332 to the negative main line. The energization of electromagnet 3I8 will maintain the contacts 321, 329 and 328, 330 in engagement with one another even when the contact 3I6 is moved out of engagement with contact 3".

When the contacts 3 I6 and 3" engage one another, a circuit will also be completed through the electromagnet 3 I 9, at which time the current passes from the positive line through wire 333 to electromagnet 3I9 and thence through wire 334, wire 323, contacts 3I6, 3I1, and wire 324 to the negative main line. The energization of electromagnet 3I9 will cause the bar 335 thereof to be drawn upwardly to bring the contacts 336 and 331 carried thereby into engagement with contacts 338 and 339 respectively. When this occurs; the electric current will enter through wire 333, pass through electromagnet 3I9, contacts 339, 331, and wire 346 to a fixed contact 34I carried by'the bracket I11 supporting the cutting unit 24 (see Fig. 1). The contact 34I is adapted to engage a contact plate 342 carried upon the cylindrical bearing portion 343 formed at the inner end of the horizontal supporting arm I15 for the cutting unit 24. The current passes from the contact 34I through the contact plate 342 and to the negative main line through wire 344.

When the electromagnets 3I8 and 3I9 are energized, the various parts of the machine are placed in operation; For instance, when electromagnet 3| 8 is energized to bring contacts 321 and 328 into engagement with contacts 329 and 330, electric current is caused to pass from the positive main line 320 to the electromagnet 258 through wire 345, and thence through wire 346, contacts 329, 321 and wire 341 to the negative main line 325. The energization of the solenoid 258 will serve to withdraw the stop bar 250 from in front of the pin 249 on the cutting unit so as to permit movement of the said unit upon operation of the motor 29 which takes place substantially simultaneously with the removal of said stop bar. Thus, current will pass to the motor 29 through wire 348 and from the motor through wire 349, contacts 329, 321 and wire 341.

At substantially the same time the solenoid 258 is energized and the circuit through the motor 29 completed, the solenoids 65 and 66 are energized to effect the raising of the table 2| to cutting position. This is effected upon energization of the electromagnet 3I9, at which time current will enter from the positive main line 326 through wire 349, pass through solenoids 55 and 66 to wire 350, thence through contacts 336, 338 and to the negative main line 325 through wire 35L At this time, it will be seen that the table 2| has been raised, the cutter stop 256 has been released, and the cutting unit 24 started to move around the template 23. As explained above, when the table is raised, the glass sheet will be automatically clamped in position thereon between the fixed and movable clamping blocks the switch 264 whereupon the circuit through the motor 29 will be broken so that power to the cutting unit will be discontinued. The power to the motor 29 is shut off when the cutting unit reaches substantially the position indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1, so that the unit is adapted to coast the balance of its cutting cycle. The opening of the switch 264 will break the circuit through the electromagnet 3H3, causing a lowering of the bar 325 to move contacts 321 and 328 away from contacts 329 and 330 respectively. The breaking of this circuit will also break the circuit through the solenoid 258 to permit the cutter stop bar 250 to be returned to operative position by the spring 252. As the cutting unit reaches the end of its cutting cycle, the speed of travel thereof will first be slowed down by frictional contact of the stop pin 249 with the levers 2M and 2M of the cutter stop means, after which the said unit will be brought to a stop by engagement of the pin 249 with the stop bar 255.

As also explained above, at the beginning of the cutting operation, the cutting wheel 25 is raised by the cam 35 and placed upon the glass sheet slightly inwardly of the rear edge 32 thereof and also raised by the cam 3! just before it reaches said edge at the completion of the cutting operation. Likewise, upon travel of the cutting unit 24 around the template, the outer curved edge 23l of cam 230 will engage the rollers 298 of the cutters 35 and 31 and move the cutting diamonds 288 outwardly so that they will make the entering cuts 34 and 35 shown in Fig. 15. These cutters will be locked in outer or retracted. position by the catches 356 until the cutting unit has completed its cutting cycle and the table lowered.

After the glass sheet 22 has been properly scored by the cutting wheel 25, the table raising solenoids 55 and 56 are deenergized to permit lowering of the table, and this is accomplished by breaking the circuit through the electromagnet 3l9., The breaking of the circuit through the electromagnet m is eifeoted by causing the fixed contact 33! on bracket I11 to pass momentarily out of engagement with the contact plate 322 as the bearing 343 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow. This will cause a lowering of the plate 335 to move contacts 335 and 331 out of engagement with contacts 338 and 339 respectively. Upon lowering of the cutting table, the glass sheet will again be transferred to the conveyor rollers l3 and 85 and will be delivered thereby onto the take-off conveyor 21. The lowering of the table will also move the clamping block H35 outwardly to release the glass sheet and to also actuate the catches 306 so that the cutting diamonds 238 will be returned by the springs 305 to operative position for the next cut.

Substantially simultaneously with the lowering of the table, a fixed contact 352, also carried by the supporting bracket E11, will momentarily engage a contact plate 353 on the cylindrical bearing portion 353. The engagement of contact 352 with contact plate 353 will complete a circuit through the solenoid H5 to cause the energization thereof and the lifting of the sheet stop means 35 to permit the glass sheet to pass therebeneath from the table. rent will enter from the positive main line through wire 352 and pass through contact plate 353, contact 352, and wire 355 to solenoid H5, and thence to the negative main line through wire At this time, the cur- 356. The fixed contact 34! is maintained in engagement with contact plate 342 at all times except momentarily when the cutting unit 24 approaches the end of its cutting cycle. On the other hand, the fixed contact 352 engages contact plate 353 only momentarily at the end of the cutting cycle and during that interval in which the contact 34! is removed from contact plate 332. Due to the fact that the fixed contact 352 engages contact plate 353 only momentarily, the stop plate 99 will be raised only momentarily to permit the forward end of the sheet to pass therebeneath, after which it will again be lowered to engage the glass. The provision of the freely rotatable rollers H8, however, permits the transfer of the sheet from the cutting table to the take-ofi conveyor 21 with very little friction.

The take-off conveyor 21 may be of any suitable construction, but as here shown includes an endless conveyor belt 28 which is adapted to receive and carry the sheet forwardly to any desired location. This conveyor may form part of an apparatus for effecting the automatic breaking of the glass sheet along the score lines and such'an apparatus is disclosed and claimed in my copending application filed of even date herewith, Serial No. 296,443. When the glass sheet is passed onto the endless conveyor, the forward edge thereof is adapted to engage a stop strip 351 carried by rods 358 secured within brackets 359 on a supporting member 360. In order to prevent undue rebound of the sheet when it strikes the stop strip 351, there are provided stop plates 35lhinged as at 352 to plates 353 secured to the bar HID by fastening means 364.

Modified machine illustrated in Figs. 16, 17. and 18 The machine illustrated in Figs. 16, 17 and 18 operates in substantially the same manner as the machine described hereinabove but differs therefrom in certain structural features. Therefore, only those parts which are different from the machine above disclosed will be set forth. In this modified construction, instead of providing individual spring-pressed guide rollers 39 and 90 along the back edge of the table 21, as shown in Fig. 1, there are provided a plurality of horizontally aligned rotatable guide rollers 355 carried by a slide plate 356 resting upon the top of the table. These guide rollers 365 are adapted to be disposed in the broken line position indicated in Fig. 16 when the glass sheet is moved into position for cutting upon the table, but when the table is elevated the guide rollers are adapted to be automatically moved rearwardly to full line position so that the rear edge of the sheet can be butted against the fixed clamping blocks l3! by the movable clamping blocks I35. Mounted upon the supporting frame 38' at the back of the table is a bracket 388 and pivoted thereto, as at 369, is a vertical arm 31!] to the upper end of which is pivoted, as at 311, the horizontal portion of a bell-crank lever 312. This bell-crank lever is also pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 313 to an angle 314 having secured'to its upper end a horizontal plate 315 which slides beneath the outer end of plate 335 carrying the guide rollers 355. The substantially vertical portion 315 of bell-crank lever 312 is provided with a notch 311 and loosely received therein is the outer end of a substantially horizontal rod 318 secured at its inner end to the slide plate 366 as at 319.

In operation, when the table 2i is in lowered position, the various parts are in the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 17, with the guide rollers 365 supported upon the table in forward position. However, when the table is raised, the upward movement of the angle 314 and plate 315 will cause the bell-crank lever 312 to be rocked in a counter-clockwise direction upon pivot 313 to cause it to assume the broken line position. At this time, the upper end of the bell-crank lever will also be moved rearwardly, and this will cause the guide rollers. 365 to also be drawn rearwardly.

The sliding movement of plate 366 upon plate 315 is facilitated by the freely rotatable guide rollers 389 carried by plate 315 and engaging the edges of slide plate 366.

Another feature of this construction is that in place of using two cams 39 and 3| for lifting the cutting wheel 25 at the beginning and end of the cutting operation, a single cam member 38! is employed for this purpose. By using a single cam member, the cutting wheel will be lifted up off of the sheet just before it reaches the rear edge 32 thereof at the completion of the cutting opera tion and will remain in raised position until it is lowered upon the sheet slightly inwardly of the rear edge thereof at the beginning of the next cutting operation. In this way, the cutting wheel is lowered and then raised only once during each cutting operation instead of being raised and lowered at the beginning and end of the cutting operation.

A further modification is that the cutter assemblies 36 and 31 for making the entering cuts are electrically operated instead of mechanically operated. As illustrated, each cutter assembly comprises a horizontal elongated supporting plate 382 extending forwardly from the table and carried by the frame 383. Slidably mounted upon the plates 382 are the slide plates 384 mounted between and guided by the,rollers 385 and 386 on said plates 382. Carried at the forward end of each slide plate is the cutting tool 381. The two slide plates 384 are connected together by a transverse bar 388 and are normally urged inwardly by springs 389 secured at one end to the transverse bar 388 as at 399 and at the opposite end to the supporting plate 382 as at 39l. The springs 389 serve to normally maintain the cutting tools 381 in forward position for cutting.

The outward movement of the cutting tools to effect the scoring of the glass sheet is controlled by a solenoid 392 carried by the supporting frame 393. Also carried by said frame is a sprocket 393 and trained about said sprocket is a chain 394 connected at one end to the transverse bar 388, as at 395, and at its opposite end to the vertical plunger 399 (Fig. 18) of solenoid 392. The cutting unit 24 carries an actuating member 391 which is adapted, upon travel of the cutting unit around the template 23, to actuate first a switch 398 carried by arm 399 to cause energization of the solenoid to move the cutting tools 381 outwardly to score the glass and subsequently switch 499 to break the circuit through said solenoid to permit return of the cutting tools 381 to cutting position.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 18, before the cutting unit 24 has started to move around the template, the movable contact plates WI and 402 of switches 398 and 499 respectively are in full line position in engagement with contacts 493 and 494, at Which time the circuit through the solenoid is broken. However, when the cutting unit starts totravel around the template and member 391 engages switch 398, it will swing the contact plate 49! thereof over into engagement with contact 495 to complete the circuit through the solenoid 392. Thus, the current will enter from the positive main line 496 and pass through wires 491 and 498 through switch 398 to wire 499, through switch 499, wires 9 and 4H to the solenoid 392, and thence through wire M2 tothe negative main line 413. Upon energization of the solenoid, the vertical plunger 396 thereof will be drawn downwardly to effect outward movement of the cutting tool 381 to make the entering cuts. The cutting tools will be maintained in outer position until the member 391 carried by the cutting unit actuates switch 499 to swing the contact plate 492 thereof into engagement with contact M4, at which time the circuit through the solenoid will again be broken whereupon the cutting tools will be returned to cutting position by the springs 389. However, upon cutting of the next sheet of glass, the member 391 will again actuate switch 398 to move the contact plate 49! thereof back into engagement with contact 493, at which time current will pass through wires 491 and M5, switch 499, wire 499, switch 398, wires M6 and 4 to the solenoid 392 and thence from the solenoid through wire H2. Upon continued movement of the cutting unit, the switch 499 will again be actuated to move the contact plate 492 thereof 'back into engagement with contact 494, at which time the circuit through the solenoid will again be broken. This cycle of operations will of course be repeated during the cutting of successive sheets of glass. Except for the differences set forth above, the machine of Figs. 16, 17 and 18 is the same and operates in the same manner as the machine of Figs. 1 to 15.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for cutting sheets or plates. of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet to be cut, a cutting unit including a cutting tool movable over the sheet for scoring the same along a predetermined line of cut, and a second cutting tool actuated by said cutting unit when the latter reaches a predetermined position for scoring the sheet from the line of cut made by the first-mentioned cutting tool outwardly to an edge of the sheet.

2. In a machine for cutting sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet to be cut, a cutting unit including a cutting tool movable over the sheet for scoring the same along a predetermined line of cut, a second cutting tool, means actuated by said cutting unit when the latter reaches a predetermined position for moving the second-mentioned cutting tool across the sheet to score the same from the line of cut made by the first-mentioned cutting tool to an edge of the sheet, and means for holding said second-mentioned cutting tool against return movement until the first-mentioned cutting tool completes its cutting operation.

3. In a machine for cutting sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet to be cut, a cutting unit including a cutting tool movable over the sheet for scoring the same along a predetermined ilne of cut, a second cutting tool, means controlled by movement of said cutting unit for moving the second-mentioned 

